Tributes flood in for ElizabethTaylor (+ video)

Tributes to Elizabeth Taylor have flooded in following her death overnight at the age of 79.

The three-time Oscar winner, who was best known for roles in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", "Butterfield 8" and the historical epic "Cleopatra", was surrounded by her four children when she died of congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where she had been hospitalised for about six weeks.

The London-born actress was a star at age 12, a bride and a divorcee at 18, a superstar at 19 and a widow at 26, while her advocacy for AIDS research and for other causes earned her a special Oscar, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in 1993.

Here are some of the tributes to the late actress:

"Elizabeth's legacy will live on in many people around the world whose lives will be longer and better because of her work and the ongoing efforts of those she inspired." - Statement from former President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

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"I don't know what was more impressive her magnitude as a star or her magnitude as a friend. Her talent for friendship was unmatched. I will miss her for the rest of my life and beyond." - Shirley MacLaine.

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"I shall remember her as a woman whose heart and soul were as beautiful as her classic face and majestic eyes." - Former Sen. John W. Warner.

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"She was passionate - and compassionate - about everything in her life, including her family, her friends, and especially the victims of the AIDS. She was truly a legend and we will miss her." - Nancy Reagan.

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"She was the last of the true Hollywood icons, a great beauty, a great actress and continually fascinating to the world throughout her tumultuous life and career." - Joan Collins.

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"She was an incredible talent, and yes, she had those unforgettable eyes. I greatly admire her humanitarian efforts which have touched so many lives. Elizabeth was a very dear, generous and loving lady." - Eva Marie Saint.

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"The whole world has been in love with Elizabeth Taylor and I was fortunate enough to be one of them." - George Hamilton.

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"She really, I think, is like the last of the movie stars. She said that there had never been a time in her life when she wasn't famous." - Barbara Walters on "The View."

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"Elizabeth Taylor was the last of the great glamour stars. She was the longest-running soap opera in history, and represented all the allure and tragedy that attracts people to Hollywood." - British director Michael Winner.

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"She earned our adoration for her stunning beauty and for being the very essence of glamorous movie stardom. And she earned our enduring love and respect for her compassion and her courage in standing up and speaking out about AIDS when others preferred to bury their heads in the sand." - Elton John.

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"It's the end of an era. It wasn't just her beauty or her stardom. It was her humanitarianism. She put a face on HIV/AIDS. She was funny. She was generous. She made her life count." - Barbra Streisand.

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"Elizabeth was the last great movie star. And a great human being. What I'll always remember about Elizabeth was her laugh. She would walk into a room looking like a princess and suddenly there would be this cackle that filled the room that would crack us all up. I'm so glad to have known her. It's a very sad day for me." - Barry Manilow.

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"Elizabeth Taylor was the last of the Hollywood greats, and a fantastically charming woman." - Tweet from singer George Michael.

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"Elizabeth is known throughout the world as an Academy Award-winning actress, but what is less known is her devotion to philanthropic causes and in 1980, she received the centre's highest honour, its Humanitarian Award. She will be sorely missed." - Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

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"Elizabeth, thank you for all your help in the battle for HIV and AIDS. You will be missed by the world." - Tweet from former basketball star Magic Johnson.

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"She leaves a monumental legacy that has improved and extended millions of lives and will enrich countless more for generations to come." - Statement from amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

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"She was the most amazing woman. When she walked into a room, she just had the most amazing presence about her. She was just incredible." - Designer Elizabeth Emanuel.

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"Elizabeth and I began our careers about the same time at MGM. Throughout her tumultuous life, she will be remembered for some unique and memorable work. And she will be ever remembered and appreciated for her forthright support of amfAR." - Actress Angela Lansbury.

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"In a career spanning more than 70 years and 50 films, her talent endured the test of time and transcended generations of moviegoers. She truly was an American icon, whose legacy went far beyond her acting skills, most notably in her efforts to lead the battle against HIV/AIDS." - Chris Dodd, chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America.

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"She was just a magnificent woman. She was a great broad and a good friend." - Whoopi Goldberg on "The View."

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"It's a terrible loss. A unique talent and a singularly spectacular individual." - Actor Martin Landau, who appeared with Taylor in "Cleopatra."

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"I specifically admire her charitable efforts including bringing early awareness to HIV/AIDS. Most memorable is her steadfast loyalty and unwavering friendship to my late brother Michael Jackson. Liz provided a sense of relief and comfort to my brother at various difficult times in his life, and I appreciate that." - Tito Jackson.

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"We were honoured to work with Elizabeth Taylor on 'General Hospital.' Her portrayal of Helena was a defining moment for the show and an extraordinary experience for everyone involved." - Statement from the soap opera "General Hospital."

- AP